AS posted this on another thread as something one might say to W. I wanted to post it here for comment so as not to hijack the other thread.
Quote:
"Despite our situation I do still care very much for you and want you to know that I am here for you if you ever want to talk about how you feel or how things are going in your life."
I want to offer this to my WAW, because she made a comment about OM "always listening to her as a person who had something to say." This isn't the first "you don't listen" I've heard, so I want to 180 that by shutting up, listening, validating and not trying to problem solve. So I want to put the offer out, one time only, with no expectations. However, I'm conflicted with not wanting to appear to be pressuring or invasive. My W is extremely hostile right now - she feels she is a "prisoner" in our house because she doesn't have the means to leave. I am trying very hard to give her space, largely through avoidance, but I still want to have as many 180s in place as possible. I want to avoid any setback if possible.
Tonight when I got home, I engaged her on how her day was with new job. At first she just said "Fine." but I pressed on by telling her how excited I was that she had joined a good company with a philosophy she was familiar with and agreed with, and that she had a good mentor in the company. (i.e. I was able to repeat what she told me last week.) I got about another 6 sentences out of her. (a conversation!) I'm walking the fine line of trying to 180 my issues that she has complained about without appearing to be giving her the 3rd degree when she is already feeling cramped for space.
